The Road to Success is Paved with….
I have the honor of talking to people all day, every day about their careers. I hear why people are disenchanted with their current job, what they think they would like to do next. I hear about dreams. Dreams fulfilled, dreams lost, broken dreams and everything in between. In my years as a recruiter I have seen thousands upon thousands of people make job changes. Some of those people report the change has gone as well as they expected. Some of those people wish they could have a do over. There is no such thing as a “do-over” when it comes to leaving one job and starting another. There may be a repeat performance, but certain bells can not be “un-rung”. Here is a short list of “do’s and don’ts” for those looking at a job change, the first four in our new series.
- Be clear about what you want in a new position and what you are expecting that new position bring to your life.
- Don’t make a job change based solely on money. Our economy is kind of “jacked” right now. The market is up and down; this up and down takes both our emotions and 401K balance for a ride. It’s easy to feel like you need a better paying job. Try to remember people only start complaining about their compensation after already having other complaints. Take the time to fully identify the “root” of your complaints, otherwise you have no chance to solve the problem.
- Take your time, but don’t be afraid to “go for it” when the right job comes along. I know this make seem like a contradiction. It is not. I tell people all of the time “don’t trade one crummy job for another”. At the same time, don’t be afraid to throw your hat in the ring when a better position becomes available. Just make sure it is actually a better job. The worst conversations I have are with people who tell me they made a change and they regret it; that their new job isn’t actually better.
- Make sure a position fits your personal needs. All work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull boy/girl. If a career change doesn’t provide enhancement to your personal life, then take some time to make sure it is the right decision. Our careers are important, but not more important than our relationships with other people.
This is the first four tips in our upcoming series “Navigating a Successful Job Change”. Stay tuned for part two!
